Electrically-operated switch



April 20, 1926. 1,581,606

S. S. 'STOLP ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH Filed Nov.- 15,- 1923 2sheets-sheet 1 S WI/EL 6. (STOLP) V I A April 20, 1926.

S. S. STOLP ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 151923 5431141 LS. 5701 v Patent-ed Apr. 20, 1926.

SAMUEL S. STOLP, 0F MANSFIELD, OHIO, ASSIG'NORTO THE OHIO BRASS COMPANY,OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED SWITCH.

Application filed November 15, 1923. Serial No. 674,810.

" for operating switches and has particular reference to a system foroperating a track switch at the will of the car operator by what isknown as the power on or power off systen'i, but my invention may alsobe used for operating other devices such as signals, indicators,counters, etc.

As my invention is primarily intended to be used in the operation of atrack switch, my description of a preferred system embodying myinvention will be confined to one for such use.

it is well known that the track switch tongue can be electricallyoperated to a straight ahead or curve position, at will,

as desired by the operator oi a moving car, depending upon whether heoperates the system with power on or power of? the motors oi? the car,as systems for such operation of the track switch are old and wellknown.

Such systems, however, are defective, in that they do not meet all therequirements of a system of this class and it is the object of myinvention to overcome such detects.

Some oi the objectsof my invention are (a) To provide a system whichwill work power on and power oil the motors of the car to throw thetrack switch in either of two directions as desired by the car operator.

(b) To provide a system in which current is supplied thereto for anassured predetermined period of time after the system has been put intooperation by the moving car and regardless of the position of the carthereafter with respect to the system.

(c) To prevent a second operation of the switch after it hasbeeninitially set in operation by the operator of a car. Some systemspermit a false operation of the switch by the operator of the car whichhas positioned the switch, but this false operation my system overcomes.

(d) To insure the breaking of any destructive arcs required in operatingthe system at relay contacts and not at the'trolley wheel or currentcollector.

(e) To increase the reliability of the system working properly uponinitial operation with power oil? when the current flowing in theauxiliary car circuits may approach close to the minimum current whichwill operate the system with power on.

(f) To provide a system which cannot be operated by a car following thefirst car until: the first car has passed the track switch.

(g) To provide a system in which certain coils which are liable to beburned out due to prolonged application of current, will be protectedagainst such injury.

(h) To produce a system which will accomplish the results desired with aminimum member of elements, circuits, etc. arranged in a simplecombination and which will be eiiicient and reliable in operation.

With the attainment of these ends and the 'ZICCOIIlPllSllJIlQIltS ofother new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists inthe features 01 construction, combination of parts, and in the uniquerelations and disposition of the parts herein more fully de scribed andclaimed and shown in the accompanying drawings which illustrate theembodiment of my invention, and in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of some of the circuits on an electricallyoperated car, together with its trolley pole T and current collector W]and by means of which the switch operating system may be controlled bythe car operator. F 2 is a diagrammatic drawing showing the variousswitches, operating coils, contact pan, trolley wire and circuits whichIemploy in one embodiment of my invention and showing the various partsin their normal relation, that is, when the system is not cooperatingwith a car to move the track switch.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic drawing showing the relation of the variousparts at the instant when the current collector on the car has engagedthe contact pan P with power off.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic drawing showing the relation of the parts atthe instant when the collector engages the pan P with power on.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the relation of the parts after apredetermined time after the collector W has engaged the pan P withpower on or power ofi.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic drawing showing the relation of the variousparts under normal conditions when combined with an additional pan Pwhereby the system is rendered inoperative during the passage of a carfrom the pan P until it engages the pan P.

There are a number of circuits 011 an elec- O trlcally operated car, seeFig. 1, which receive their current from the collector W and which havea bearing upon the operationot the system. There may be severalcircuits, which I will term auxiliary circuits, namely, a heater circuitH, a light circuit L, an air compressor circuit A and possibly others.All of these circuits, however, are distinct from the circuit foroperating the motors M which move the car and which are controlled bythe controller C. The current collector W engages the trolley wire andis secured to and electrically connected to the car as a rule. by atrolley pole T to which the various circuits are connected and allcircuits also have a ground connection G. .The current flowing throughthe car motors M when the controller is turned to the on position, is asa rule, large as compared with the current which will flow through oneor more of the circuits H, L, A, etc. but there are conditions in whichthe summation of the current flowing through the auxiliary circuits mayapproach closely to the current flowing through the motors.

In the so-called power on and power off system of track switch operationthe system depends for its operation upon the car operator throwing hiscontroller to the oii position or the on position, that is, it he passesthe contact pan P with his controller at the otf position the trackswitch tongue will be thrown to the straight ahead position it it is notalready in that position, and it he moves his controller to the power onposition the track switch tongue will be moved to the curve position ifit is not already in that position. Therefore, it will be seen thatsince the current flowing through the auxiliary circuits are free toflow regardless of whether the controller C is at the power on or poweroff position, that it the current flowmg through the auxiliary circuitsis equal to the current flowing through the motors that the power on andpower off system cannot be used as the switch tongue would always bethrown to the curve position when the car passed the pan unless somemeans was provided for reducing or cutting out the auxiliary current atthe time the car passed the pan if it was intended to take the straightahead track. However, such con-- ditions are very remote, but there areconditions where the auxiliary current and the current passing throughthe motors required to operate the track switch to one position mayapproach each other sufliciently close to endanger the proper operationof the track switch when it is desired to take the straight aheadposition, and as will be later explained, it is one of the objects of:my invention to provide a means for in creasing the reliability ofproper operation of the track switch'under such conditions.

In the preferred system embodying my invention I employ in connectionwith the trolley wire 1 a contact pan P provided with two parallelcontact elements 2 and 3 insulated from each other. The contact pan ismounted upon the trolley wire in such a manner that the trolley wire iscontinuous, but is not engaged by the current collector TV while thecollector is in engagement with the pan. The elements 2 and 3 are sopositioned that they may be bridged by the collector TV as the memberpasses under the pan P or stands in engagement therewith.

I also employ a selector switch A provided with coils 4 and 5 mountedupon a core of soft iron or steel and having a switch arm 6 which isfree to engage the terminals 7 or 8 as later explained, but normallyengaging terminal 7. The coil 1 is usually of very low resistance as itcomprises a few turns of very heavy wire having one terminal connectedto the trolley wire 1 by the conductor 9, and the other terminalconnected to the contact element 3 by means of the conductors 10 and 11.The winding of the coil 4: is so adjusted that the arm 6 will be movedinto engagement with the terminal 8 only when the car operator sets hiscontroller at a power on position.

The switch tongue 12, which is positioned in the track and which causesthe car to take a straight ahead or curve direction, is operated bymeans of the reciprocating motor S provided with two solenoids 13 and 14within which is a plunger connected to the tongue 12 and which sooperates that when the solenoid 18 is energized the tongue 12 is movedto a straight ahead position, as in Fig. 8, and when the solenoid 14 isenergized the switch tongue is moved to the curve position, as in Fig.2. One terminal 01": the solenoid 13 is connected to the terminal 7 bythe conductor 15, and one terminal of the solenoid 1 1 is connected tothe terminal 8, with the coil 5 interposed, by the conductors 16 and 17,and the other terminal of each solenoid is connected to the ground Gthrough the common conductor 18.

When a current sufficient to operate the solenoid 14 is flowingtherethrough, the same current flows through the coil 5, energizes thecoil 5 and the arm 6 is picked up and held in engagement with theterminal 8 so long as current flows through the coil 5 and solenoid 1 1.

The switch arm 6 is electrically connected to the contact member 2 bymeans of the conductor 19, terminal 27, switch arm 20, conductor 21,coil 22 and conductors 23 and 24. It will be seen that whenever currentis flowing through either solenoid 13 or 14: the current will flowthrough the coil 22 of the electrically operated switch B, and when thecoil 22is energized the switch arm 25 will be moved .into engagementwith the terminal 26. The switch arm20 is normally in engagement withthe terminal 27 thereby normally closing the circuit between the pan Pand the solenoid 13.

lVhenever the collector W is in engage- .ment with the members 2 and 3the solenoid 13 or 14L will be energized, as there is then a circuitfrom the trolley wire through the solenoid 13 or 1 1 to ground,depending upon whether the switch arm (3 is in engagement with theterminal 7 or 8, respectively, and the normal engagement of the switcharm (5 with the terminal 7 continues or the arm moves into engagementwith the terminal 8, depending upon whether the car operator passes thepan P with power oil or power 011 respectively.

As the solenoids 13 and 1 1 are not wound to withstand a continued flowof current for an indefinite time and would, therefore, be burned out bya prolonged flow of current and in order to open the circuit leading tothese solenoids to prevent their burning out and also to preventoperation of the tongue 12 in a wrong direction after a predeterminedlapse of time, I provide means for not only holding the armature 20 ofthe switch C normally closed, but also provide means for opening theswitch after a predetermined lapse of time. This I accomplish bymounting two coils 28 and 29 upon a soft iron or steel core whereby themovement of the arm 20 is controlled when either one or both of thecoils 28 or 29 are energized. One terminal of the coil 28 I connect tothe source of power, as to the conductor 11 by means of the conductor30, or it may be connected directly to the conductor 9 or preferably tothe trolley wire 1, and the other terminal of the coil 28 is connectedto the conductor 19 by means of the conductor 31 which then provides aground therefor through the solenoid 13.

One terminal of the coil 29 is connected to the circuit leading to thecontact member 2, as for instance, to the switch arm 20 by the conductor32 and the other terminal is connected to the conductor 19 through theconnection 31 thereby providing a ground for the coil 29 by way of thesolenoid 13. It will. be seen that when the contacts 2 and 3 are notbridged by the collector IV that current will flow from the trolley wire1 to the ground through the elements 9, 4, 10, 30, 28, 31, 19, 6, 7, 15,13 and 18 thereby energizing the coil 28 and magnetizing the corethereof and drawing the arm 20 into engagement with the terminal 27.Whenever the contracts 2 ant 3 are bridged by the collector W, and thecar operator turns his controller to the power off position, currentwill flow from the trolley wire 1 through the elements 9, 4, 10, 11, a,W, 2, 2 1, 23, 22,21, 20, 27, 19, 6, 7, 15, 13, 18 to ground. Thiscurrent will energize the coil 22 thereby attracting the arm 25 thefunction of which will be explained later, and the current will alsoenergize the solenoid 13 thereby drawing the tongue 12 to the straightahead position as shown in Fig. 3.

As soon as the operating current flows through the circuit justdescribed the element 19 is in electrical connection with the trolleywire land there will be but little diti erence of potential across thecoil 28 as it will be short circuited, so to speak, by the circuitcomposed of the elements 11., 3, W, 2, 2 1, 23, 22, 21, 20 and 19. Thisshort circuit of the coil 28 will practically prevent the flow outcurrent through the coil 28 and alter the coil 28 has been tie-energizedsufficiently, the arm 20 will drop out of en gagen'ient with theterminal 27.

So far as the system thus far described is concerned, soon as the arm 20opens the circuit the current would again be free to flow through thecoil 28 and immediately pick up the arm whereupon the engagement of thearm 20 with the terminal 27 would again short circuit the coil 28 andthe arm would again drop. This operation would be repeated as long asthe collector IV engaged the cont actors 2 and 3. This alternate openingand closing of the arm 20 with the terminal 27 I prevent by the use ofthe coil 29 which is mounted upon the same core with the coil 28 andwound to energize the core equal to that of coil 28, but in the re versedirection, thereby neutralizing the energizing ettect ot the coil 28when both coils are energized.

It will be noted that the coil 29 is short circuited by the arm 20 whenin engagement with the-terminal 27, the same as coil 28, therefore, whenthe coil 28 is short c-ircuited, as already sp-lained, the coil 29 isalso short circuited and the current flowing through either coil will benegligible and the arm 20 will drop. However, as soon as the arm 20drops the short circuit is removed from both coils 28 and 29 and currentwill flow through each so long as the arm 20 is out of engagement withthe terminal 27 and there is current in the circuit leading from thewhen the circuit leading from the contact 2 through the conductor 24,etc. is energized and the arm 20 engages the terminal 27 that coils 28and 29 are short circuited and, therefore, the arm 20 is free to drop.As soon, however, as the arm 20 disengages the terminal 27 and there iscurrent in the circuit leading from contact 2, both coils 28 and 29 willbe energized in opposite directions and will, therefore, neutralize eachother and the arm 20 will remain in an open position. As soon, however,as the contact 2 is disconnected from the source of power, after the arm20 is open, current will ceaseto flow through the coil 29, but willcontinue to flow through the coil 28 and the arm 20 will be picked up,returning the system thus far explained to its normal operatingcondition.

It is desirable, however, that the arm shall not open the circuit fromthe contact 2 to the track switch T until after the current flowing tothe track switch T has had sullicient opportunity to properly energizethe solenoids 13 or 14 to a sufficientdegrce to operate the switchtongue 12. In order to accomplish this, the switch G is provided with atime lag in opening so that the arm 20 will not drop immediately uponthe coils 28 and 29 becoming short circuited. This time lag in theopening of the arm 20 may be accomplished in various ways, as forinstance, a heavy copper sleeve 33 may be mounted upon the core of theswitch C and the relation of the arm 20 with respect to the core may bevaried so that the arm 20 which is of magnetic material may contact withthe core or it may be spaced therefrom. If the arm contacts with thecore the residual magnetism will tend to hold the arm 20 in engagementwith the terminal 27 longer than though the arm 20 did not engage thecore, but was spaced a slight distance therefrom, or other means such asthe well known dash-pot may be used.

If the car operator should pass the pan P with his controller turned tothe power on position, as soon as the collector W engages with thecontacts 2 and 3, a heavy current, will flow from the trolley 1 throughthe elements 9, 4, 10, 11, 3, and then to ground through the controllerand motors on the car and at the same time the current will also becarried from the contact 3 to the contact 2 through the collector 1V andfrom there on through the circuit 24, etc. as already explained. Theheavy current flowing through the coil 4 will pick up the arm 6 intoengagement with the terminal 8 and as soon as this occurs current willflow from the contact 2 through the circuit 24, etc. coil 5 and thesolenoid 14 to ground (see Fig. 4). This current will energize thesolenoid 14 and the switch tongue 12 will be moved to the curveposition, and it will also energize the coil 5 which will assist thecoil 4 in holding the arm 6 in a raised position.

If for any reason while intentionally passing the pan P with thecontroller set to power on, the car operator should unintentionally turnhis controller to power off before the collector has left the pan P thearm 6 will. still be held in a raised position due to the currentflowing from the contactor 2, circuits 24, etc. coil 5 and solenoid 14to ground even though the current is not flowing through the coil 4 dueto the car operator turning his controller to the power off position.The coil 5, which I term a holding coil, prevents the movement of theswitch tongue to a straight ahead position if the car operator shouldengage the pan P with power on and unintentionally throw his controllerto power off before he has passed the pan P or before the arm 20 hasdropped.

The coil 4 is wound with a few turns of very heavy wire to carry a largecurrent and is, therefore, of very low resistance. The coil 5 is woundwith merely suflicient ampere turns to hold the arm 6 in araisedposition. The solenoids 13 and 14 are wound with a large number of turnsin order to secure a sufficient energization with possibly six to 10amperes flowing therethrough to insure positive movement of the switchtongue 12. The coils 28 and 29 are wound with a very large number ofturns and the resistance may run as much as 10,000 ohms or more,therefore, the current flowing through these coils will be small andwill not energize the coils 4, 5, 13 or 14. As thus far explained, mysystem is substan tially a duplicate of that disclosed in my copendingapplication, Serial No. 623,703, filed March 8, 1923, with the exceptionthat the copending application does not disclose the holding coil 5 orthe switch B referred to.

It sometimes happens that the car operator will pass the pan P with hiscontroller set to power on or power off at such a rate of speed that thecollector V will have engaged and passed over the pan P before thesolenoids 13 or 14 can be brought up to a sulficient saturation point tomove the switch tongue 12. It also happens that a car operator mayengage the pan P with his controller intentionally set for power off,but before the switch 20 can operate to open its circuit the operatorhas unintentionally thrown the controller to power on which would thenmove the switch tongue in the wrong direction. It also often happensthat the current collector will pass off the pan P before the arm 20 hasopened the circuit to the solenoids 13 or 14 and while they are stilldrawing current, and this will cause a quite vicious arc between'the panP and the collector W. It is advisable to eliminate all these defectsand to do so in the system as thus far described, I employ a simplemeans for correcting all these defects.

I employ for this purpose an electrically operated switch B providedwith the operating coil 22 mounted upon a core in series with theoperating circuit from the pan to the track switch. The said core whenenergized attracts a switch arm 25 which engages with a terminal 26which in turn is connected to the trolley wire by means of the conductor3%. llhe terminal 26 may, however, if desired, be connected to theconductor 9. The switch arm 25 is connected to the conductors 23 and 2%as indicated at X. It will be seen that I have provided a circuit fromthe trolley wire to the conductors 23 and 21 when the arm 25 is closedand the closing of the arm 25 will take place the instant the collectorengages the contacts 2 and 3, as a circuit is then established from thetrolley wire 1 across the pan through the conductors 24; and 30, thecoil 22 and conductors 21, etc. to the ground G. hen this circuit isestablished the coil 22 is ener gized, closing the arm 25. As soon asthe arm 25 closes current is then free to flow from the trolley wire 1through the elements 34, 26, 25, S5, 25, 22, 21, etc. to ground G. Itwill be evident that if the collector after engaging the pan, therebyclosing the arm 25, should pass off of the pan before the arm 20 shouldopen, that current would flow through the system from the trolley wire 1by way of the conductor 3 1, etc. and would do so until the switch G hadperformed its function of dropping the arm 20 after a predetermined timeafter the collector had engaged the pan. It will be seen that I haveprovided means for energizing the solenoids 13 or it for the fullduration of time intended for their proper operation.

The switch 13 and its connections when closed also operates to prevent afalse oper: tion of the track switch by unintentionally throwing thecontroller to power on energizing the contact 2 directly from thetrolley wire. The closing of the switch arm 25, since it connects theconductor 24 with the trolley wire 1 also connects the contact 2 withthe trolley wire 1. If the car operator intentionally engages the panwith his controller set at power off and should he before the arm 20opens and while the collector still engages the pan, unintentionallythrow his controller to power on the arm 6 would not be moved intoengagement with the terminal 8 for the reason that the motors would drawtheir current from both contacts 2 and 3 of the pan P, and as theresistance of the circuits leading from each of the two contacts to thetrolley wire are very low and not far different, the coil t would bedeprived of a large proportion of the current which would otherwise flowthrough it wit-h power on and, therefore, the ampere turns would not besufficient to pick up the arm 6.

Again, if the speed of the car in passing the pan P either with power onor power off is such that the collector has left the pan P before thearm 20 has opened, the direct connecting of the conductors 23 and 2%with the trolley wire 1 by way of the arm 25, will prevent an arebetween the current collector and the pan P as the system will bedrawing its operating current after the switch 25 closes by way of theconductor 34 rather than across the contacts 2 and 8 and through theconductor 24': and, therefore, there will be no breaking of theoperating circuit between the pan and the collector W. The potential ofthe trolley wire and the con tacts 2 and 3 will be substantially thesame until the switch C has opened.

The switch B and its connections also add another advantage to thesystem in increasing its reliability of operation under conditions,where the current flowing through the auxiliary circuits of the carapproaches close to the current value which will cause the coil t to beenergized to pick up the arm 6. This difference in some cases may not bevery great, therefore, I so proportion the ampere turns necessary tooperate the coils 4E and 22, and also so arrange the arms 6 and 25 withrelation to their respective cores that the arm 25 will be raised beforethe arm 6 can be raised if the coil at is energized by a current equalto the maximum which is likely to flowthrough the auxiliary circuits ofthe car. But, the coils and arms are so related so that the arm 25 willnot be raised before the arm 6 is raised if the car engages the pan Pwith power on, and the full normal current flowing through the carmotors flows through the coil 4t. In that case the ampere turnsenergizing the coil 1 would be very much larger than the ampere turnsnormally energizing the coil 22 and the arm 6 would be raised before thearm 25 is raised.

Upon the car operator engagin the pan with power on the arm 6 isinstantly raised and immediately followed by the raising of the arm 25,and this latter immediately places two paths of low resistance for themotors to draw current from the trolley wire and this would tend tode-energize the coil 4 sufficiently to possibly permit the arm 6 to dropprior to the opening of the arm 20 and hence throw the track switch tothe power on position. Therefore, to prevent this the coil 5 is insertedin the circuit leading from the terminal 8 to the solenoid 14 and whichis instantly energized upon the raising of the arm 6 and therefore holdsthe arm 6 in a raised position until the arm 20 has opened. The arm 6would probably drop if the car operator engaging the pan P with power onshould unintentionally throw his controller to power off before he hadleft the pan and before the arm 20 had. opened and thus the holding coil5 would maintain the arm 6 in its raised position as initially set untilthe arm 20 had bpened.

Tb recapitulate the operation of my device-if. the car operator desiresto move straight ahead he throws his controller to the power offposition. with the intention of coasting past the pan, but instantlyupon the collector engaging the pan the arm 25 will he raised and thesolenoid 18 energized and the tongue 12 moved to the straight aheadposition as shown in Fig. 3. If by mistake, he throws his controller topower on while still engaging the pan and before the arm 20 opens, thearm 6 cannot be changed. If he should stop with his contactor upon thepan beyond the time lag of the switch G, the arm 20 will drop, deprivingthe system of its operating current and prevent the burning out of thesolenoid 13. Also, upon starting his car with the controller turned topower on, after having stopped with the contactor engaging the pan, hecannot change the position of the tongue 12 even though the arm 6 may beraised because the arm 20 is open.

If the car operator is desirous of taking the curve he throws hiscontroller to the power on position as the car is about to engage thepan and upon engagement the arm 6 will be raised and immediatelythereafter the arm 25 and the solenoid 14 energized thereby moving theswitch tongue 12 to the curve position, all as shown in Fig. 4. Shouldthe car operator turn his controller to power off before the con tactorhas left the pan and before the arm 20 had opened the arm 6 would bemaintained in a raised position until the arm 20 has opened. If by aremote chance the car operator should stop with the collector in contactwith the pan, the arm 20 would open up after a predetermined time andthe arms 6 and 25 would drop, thereby preventing a burning out of thesolenoid 14.

Under either condition of the car 0pera tor engaging the pan with poweron or power off, if he should pass over the pan at such a rate of speedthat the collect-or would be out of engagement with the pan prior to thedropping of the arm 20, current would be maintained on the coils 13 or14 until the arm 20 does drop. After the arm 20 has dropped, the systemwill stand as shown in Fig. 5 with the tongue 12 in either of its twopositions.

In Fig. 6 I have shown the application of my system to use wit-h adouble pan, one placed in advance and the other beyond the track switchand the circuits are so arranged that after the arm 20 has opened uponthe system being energized by the collector en gaging the pan P, the arm20 cannot be closed until the collector which has engaged the pan P hasengaged the pan P. This modification in. my system is brought about bymerely changing the connections of the coils 28 and 29 on the switch Cwhereby the arm 20 is caused to drop after a predetermined. time andneither of the coils can again close the switch until one of them isenergized from the engagement of the collector with the pan P.

As all of the elements are substantially the same with the arrangementshown in Fig. 6, as in the other figures, the same numerals will be usedthroughout with the exception of those on the time switch coils andtheir connections. The coil 40 has one terminal connected by means ofthe conductor to the conductor 11, or it may be connected to theconductor 9 and the other end of the coil 40 is connected to the switcharm 20 by means of the conductor 42. Under normal conditions the switcharm being in the raised position, current will flow through theconductor 30 from the trolley through the coil 40, conductor 42, arm 20,etc. to ground thereby energizing the coil 40 and holding the arm in theraised position. As soon, however, as the collector engages the pan Pthe coil 40 is short circuited in a similar manner as the coil 28 inFig. 2 and the arm 20 will drop after apredetermined length of time, asthe switch G is equipped with the same time lag feature as in the otherfigures. The arm 20 having been once opened, it cannot be closed ascurrent then cannot flow through the coil 40 after its connection to theground has been broken.

To close the arm 20 and return the device to normal conditions, I employthe coil 41 which has one terminal connected to the contact 43 on thepan P by means of the conductor 44 and the other terminal of the coil 41is connected to the conductor 19 by the conductor 45, thecontact 46 ofthe pan P is connected to the trolley wire by the conductor 47. It willbe evident that when the collector engages the contacts 41-} and 46,current will then flow from the trolley wire 1 through the conductor 47and from the contacts46 to 43 through the collector W, through theconductor 44, coil 41, conductor 45, to ground thereby energizing thecoil 41 and picking up the arm 20, thereby returning the system tonormal operation.

It will be evident that while a car is passing from the pan P and untilit has passed the track switch S and has engaged the pan P, that a carfollowing cannot operate the switch tongue.

There are modifications which will be apparent to those skilled in theart and other uses which my system can be put to than those hereinspecified, but I do not wish to be limited other than by my claims.

I claim:

1. In a switch operating system, the com bination of a contact pan andtrolley wire, anelectrically operated track switch, control meanselectrically connected to the trolley wire and pan and having othercircuits leading to the pan and track switch for positioning the trackswitch in either of two directions when the pan is engaged by a currentcollector with power on or power 01?, a normally closed switch tocontrol the current to the track switch and interposed in one of thecircuits leading to the control means, and means to open the normallyclosed switch to interrupt the current to the track switch after apredetermined lapse of time after the collector has engaged the pan andregardless of whether the collector continues to engage the pan or notand means ope ating automatically upon engagement of the currentcollector with the pan to in sure current to the track switch for thesaid predetermined time.

2. In a switch operating system, the combination of a contact pan andtrolley wire, an electrically operated track switch, clectricallyoperated control means connected to the pan and trolley wire and havingother circuits leading to the pan and track switch to operate the switchin either of two direc tions when the pan is engaged by a currentcollector with power on or power oil, a normally closed switch in one ofthe circuits leading from the control means to open the circuit after apredetermined time after the collector has engaged the pan, meanstoinsure current to the track switch for the said predetermined timecomprising an electri cally operated switch having a coil in series withone of the circuits from the control means and being arranged tonormally maintain an open circuit from the trolley wire to the circuitconnected to the coil and to close the circuit when the pan is engagedby the collector.

3. In a switch operating system, the combination of a contact pan havinga pair of contact members to be engaged by a current collector, atrolley wire, an electrically operated track switch, a selector switchhaving control means connected to one contact member and the trolleywire, circuits leading from the selector switch to the track switch, acircuit leading from the selector switch and connected to the othercontact member and having included therein a coil and also anelectrically operated switch to control the circuit, a switch controlledby the said coil and adapted to close a circuit from the trolley wire tothe said circuitwhich includes the coil and a ground for the system, theparts arranged to operate power on or power oil' to position the trackswitch and to prevent current flowing to the track switch after apredetermined time after the collector engages the pan and to maintaincurrent to the track switch for said prede termined time regardless ofthe position of the collector after it has initially engaged the pan.

4:. In a switch operating system, the combination 01 a pan, a trolleywire, an electrically operated switch movable in diii'er'ent directions,an electrically operated switch to control the movement oi the firstsaid switch, circuits connecting the various parts to operate the firstsaid switch to its proper position when the pan is engaged by at currentcollector with power on or power otl', one of the circuits being anormally closed path from the pan to the second said switch, means toopen the said path after a predetermined lapse oi time and means tomaintain current to the system during the predetermined time regardlessof the position of the current collector-after engagement with the pan.

5. In a switch operating system, the combination or an electricallyoperated switch, electrically operated means to control the direction ofmovement of the switch in either of two directions, a source of power, acontact pan to be engaged by a current collector and connections formingnormally closed paths between the parts such that the system operates tomove the switch to one or its positions when the collector engages thepan with power off and to the other position when the pan is engagedwith power on, and electrically operated means adapted to prevent thefirst said operating means operating to move the switch to the power onposition when the collector engages the pan with power oh.

6. In a switch operating system, the combination of an electricallyoperated switch, electrically operated means to control the direction ofmovement oi the switch, a conductor connected to the source oi power, acontact pan to be engaged by a current collector and normally closedpaths so connecting the parts that the ystem works power ou or power oilwhen the collector e11- the pan to move the switch in the properdirection and electrically operated means to prevent the operation ofthe electrically operated means after the initial engagement of thecollector with the pan and while the collector engages the pan.

7. In a switch operating system, the combination of an electricallyoperated switch adapted to be moved to either of two posi tions, anelectrically operated switch adapted to control a normally closed pathleading to the first said switch to move it at will to either of its twopositions and means to prevent the operation of the first said switchafter its initial operation and while current is flowing to the firstsaid switch.

8. In a switch operating system, the combination of a contact pan to beengaged by a current collector, a trolley wire connected to said pan, anelectrically operated track switch, means for maintalmng current to thetrack switch for a predetermined length.

of time after the engagementof the collector with the pan to operate theswitch in the desired direction, said means also operating to prevent asecond operation of the switch during the said predetermined lapse oftime.

9. In a switch operating system, the combination with an electricallyoperated track switch, a selector switch, a trolley wire and contact panall connected and arranged to operate power on and power off the systemto move the track switch to a desired position, of means to maintaincurrent to he track switch for a predetermined time after its initialoperation and to prevent a change -from said position during saidpredetermined time.

10. In a switch operating system, the combination of an electricallyoperated switch, circuits thereto, means to open and close one of saidcircuits wien the system is in use, said means so arranged that it isopened by a current collector but later closed automatically so that thesystem is rendered inoperative between the opening and closing of thesaid means and means independent of the first said means insuring theopening of the first said means by the collector regardless of whetherthe collector continues to engage a pan or not after its firstcooperation therewith and also insures current to the track switch untilthe first said means opens.

11. In a switch operating system, the combination of an electricallyoperated switch, a trolley wire, a contact pan, circuit controllingmeans operated automatically during the movement of a car to transmitcurrent from the trolley wire to the said switch to operate the switchin the proper direction, a normally closed electrically Operated switchcooperating with the circuit controlling means and operatedautomatically from the trolley wire to first open after a predeterminedlapse of time and subsequently close a part of the circuit controllingmeans and means to maintain current to the system and to theelectrically operated switch during the said lapse of time regardless ofthe speed ot the car.

12. In a switch operating system, the combination of a Contact panhaving two contact members and to be engaged by a current collector, asource of power, a normally closed path from one contact member to anelectrically operated switch movable in diftercnt directions at will andmeans controlling said path to operate the said switch in the desireddirection, and means to electrically connect the said contact member andthe source of power after the collector engages the pan to continue thesaid electrical connection for a predetermined time.

18. In a switch operating system, the combination of an electricallyoperated switch, electrically operated means to control the direction ofmovement of the switch in either of two directions and connectedthereto, a source of power, a contact pan having two contact members andto be engaged by a current collector, a coil for controlling saidoperating means and connected to the source or power and one contactmember, a normally closed path connecting the operating means and theother contact member and an electrically operated means for electricallyconnecting the source of power to the last said contact member when thepan is engaged by the current collector.

l l. In a switch operating system, the combination of a contact panhaving two contact members tobe engaged by a current collector, a sourceof power, an electrically operated switch to be moved in differentdirections, depending upon the collector engaging the pan with power onor power off, a selector switch controlling a branched circuit from thepan to the said switch and having an operating coil connected to the panand source of power, an electrically operated switclrtor connecting theselector switch direct to the source of power after the collector hasengaged the pan, and an electrically operated time limit switch normallyclosing said circuit and arranged to remain closed after the initialengagement of the collector with the pan and for a predetermined timeand to automatically open a branch of the aforesaid circuit and tomaintain said branch open after said predetermined time if the collectorstill engages the pan and to automatically close after the collector haspassed out of engagement with the pan.

15. In a switch operating system, the con'ibination ot a pan, a trolleywire, an electrically operated switch movable to ditlerent positions, anelectrically operated switch to control the movement of the first saidswitch, circuits connecting the various parts to operate the first saidswitch to its proper position when the pan is engaged by a currentcollector with power on or power off, one off the circuits being anormally closed circuit, means to open the circuit after a predeterminedlapse of time after the collector engages the pan and means compellingthe opening means to operate to open the circuit regardless of theposition of the collector.

16. In a switch operating system, the combination of a pan, a trolleywire, an electrically operated switch movable to (litl erent positionswhen the pan is engaged by a current collector with power on or poweroil, a divided switch operating circuit connecting the pan and switchand having one of its branches normally connected to the pan and theother branch normally disconnected, electrically operated means foralternating the connections and disconnections of the branches with thepan and switch, a holding coil mounted on the electrically operatedmeans and connected in series with the normally open branch circuit tohold the branch circuit closed when the collector engages the pan withpower on and means controlling the circuit from the pan to theelectrically operated switch to open the same after a predetermined timeafter the collector engages the pan and thereby (ls-energize the holdingcoil.

17. In a switch operating system, the combination of a contact pan, atrolley wire, an electrically operated switch, a selector switchconnected to the pan and trolley wire, a normally closed path connectingthe pan and selector switch and branch circuits connect ing the selectorswitch and first switch, electrically operated means to electricallyconnect the trolley wire and pan after the pan is engaged by a collectorwith power on or power off, an electrically operated time switchnormally closing the path from the pan to the selector switch, means tocompel the opening of the time switch after a predetermined time at'terthe collector engages the pan and to maintain the path open until thecollector has moved over a predetermined distance and means to operatethe time switch to closed position after the collector has traveled saiddistance.

18. In a switch operating system, the combination of an electricallyoperated switch, a switch operating circuit, a selector switch forpositioning said switch and means operating prior to the operation ofthe selector switch to shunt out the said selector switch and render itinoperative with power first off and then applied to the motors.

19. In a switch operating system, the combination of an electricallyoperated switch throwing device, a power circuit leading to said switchthrowing device, a contact pan, a switch electrically operated to aclosed position and normally in that position to control said powercircuit, circuits, means for opening the switch after a lapse of timeafter a current collector has engaged the pan and regardless of theposition of the collector and means to supply current to the systemduring said lapse of time. regardless of the position of the currentcollector.

20. In a switch operating system, the combination of an electricallyoperated switch adapted to be moved to either of two positions, acontact pan, a source of power, an electrically operated switch adaptedto control a normally closed path leading from the pan to the first saidswitch to move it at will to either of its two positions, electricallyoperated means to connect said path to the source of power uponengagement of the pan with a current collector in addition to theconnection made by the collector engaging the pan and electricallycontrolled means to open said path after a predetermined time after thecollector has engaged the pan regardless of its position, to cause saidelectrically controlled means to break the connection of said path withthe source of power and to later return said path to its normal closedstate.

21. In a switch operating system, the combination of an electricallyoperated switch, normally closed paths thereto, means operating to openone of the paths after a fixed predetermined time and to later close thesame when the device is in use so that a current collector will firstopen the said means and later close the same and other meansautomatically supplying current to the system during the predeterminedperiod of time and compelling the first said means to open after thepredetermined time.

22. In a switch operating system, the combination of an electricoperating switch, two contact pans, a selector switch, an electric timeswitch having a holding coil and a pickup coil for operating same,circuits connecting said parts so that a current collector engaging thefirst pan will open the time switch after a predetermined time afterengagement of the pan by the collector and will close the switch when itengages the second pan and means supplying current to said system duringsaid predetermined time and compelling the time switch to openregardless of the position of the collector.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

SAMUEL S. STOLP.

